WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-10 MCQs on Verbs of Incomplete Predication,

 

10 MCQs on Verbs of Incomplete Predication, Subjective Complement and Objective Complement

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1. "She seems extremely confident about the outcome of the final interview." — Identify the verb of incomplete predication and its complement.

• A) "Seems" is a transitive verb and "extremely confident" is its direct object
• B) "Seems" is a verb of incomplete predication and "extremely confident" is its subjective complement
• C) "Seems" is an intransitive verb and "extremely confident" is an adverbial phrase
• D) "Seems" is a linking verb and "extremely confident" is its objective complement

Answer: B) "Seems" is a verb of incomplete predication and "extremely confident" is its subjective complement ("Seems" is a verb of incomplete predication also called a linking verb because it does not express a complete action but links the subject "she" to its complement — "extremely confident" is a subjective complement or predicative adjective that describes the state or condition of the subject — the sentence would be incomplete without this complement.)

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2. "The milk turned sour because it was left outside in the heat for too long." — Identify the complement in this sentence.

• A) "Sour" is an objective complement describing the object of the verb
• B) "Sour" is a direct object receiving the action of the verb "turned"
• C) "Sour" is a subjective complement describing the state of the subject "the milk"
• D) "Sour" is an adverb modifying the verb "turned"

Answer: C) "Sour" is a subjective complement describing the state of the subject "the milk" ("Turned" is a verb of incomplete predication that links the subject "the milk" to the adjective "sour" — "sour" is a subjective complement or predicative adjective that describes the changed condition of the subject — verbs such as "turn" "become" "grow" "fall" "go" and "get" are commonly used as verbs of incomplete predication.)

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3. "The committee elected her chairperson of the newly formed cultural association." — Identify the objective complement in this sentence.

• A) "Her" is the objective complement describing the subject of the sentence
• B) "Chairperson" is the objective complement describing the object "her"
• C) "Chairperson" is the subjective complement describing the subject of the sentence
• D) "Her" is the subjective complement linking the subject to its state

Answer: B) "Chairperson" is the objective complement describing the object "her" ("Elected" is a transitive verb that takes both a direct object and an objective complement — "her" is the direct object and "chairperson" is the objective complement that completes the meaning by describing the role assigned to the object — an objective complement either describes or renames the direct object of the verb.)

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4. "He grew increasingly restless as the long and tedious meeting dragged on without any conclusion." — Identify the verb of incomplete predication and explain its function.

• A) "Grew" is a transitive verb and "restless" is its direct object
• B) "Grew" is an intransitive verb and "increasingly restless" is an adverbial phrase
• C) "Grew" is a verb of incomplete predication linking the subject "he" to the complement "increasingly restless"
• D) "Grew" is a verb of incomplete predication and "increasingly restless" is its objective complement

Answer: C) "Grew" is a verb of incomplete predication linking the subject "he" to the complement "increasingly restless" ("Grew" is used here as a verb of incomplete predication or linking verb — it does not express a complete action but connects the subject "he" to the adjective phrase "increasingly restless" which is the subjective complement — "grew" in this sense means "became" and describes a gradual change in the condition of the subject.)

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5. "They appointed him manager of the southern regional division of the company." — Identify the objective complement.

• A) "Him" is the objective complement renaming the subject of the sentence
• B) "Manager" is the subjective complement describing the subject of the sentence
• C) "Of the southern regional division" is the objective complement modifying the verb
• D) "Manager" is the objective complement renaming the direct object "him"

Answer: D) "Manager" is the objective complement renaming the direct object "him" ("Appointed" is a transitive verb that requires both a direct object and an objective complement to complete its meaning — "him" is the direct object and "manager" is the objective complement that renames or identifies the object — verbs such as "appoint" "elect" "make" "name" "call" and "consider" commonly take objective complements.)

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6. "The entire audience remained completely silent throughout the deeply moving and emotional performance." — Identify the verb of incomplete predication and its complement.

• A) "Remained" is a transitive verb and "silent" is its direct object
• B) "Remained" is a verb of incomplete predication and "completely silent" is its subjective complement
• C) "Remained" is an intransitive verb and "completely silent" is an adverbial phrase
• D) "Remained" is a linking verb and "completely silent" is its objective complement

Answer: B) "Remained" is a verb of incomplete predication and "completely silent" is its subjective complement ("Remained" is a verb of incomplete predication that links the subject "the entire audience" to the adjective phrase "completely silent" — the adjective phrase "completely silent" is the subjective complement that describes the persistent state or condition of the subject throughout the performance.)

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7. "She found the examination paper surprisingly easy compared to what she had expected." — Identify the objective complement.

• A) "The examination paper" is the objective complement describing the subject
• B) "Surprisingly easy" is the subjective complement describing the subject "she"
• C) "Surprisingly easy" is the objective complement describing the direct object "the examination paper"
• D) "Compared to what she had expected" is the objective complement

Answer: C) "Surprisingly easy" is the objective complement describing the direct object "the examination paper" ("Found" is a transitive verb taking both a direct object and an objective complement — "the examination paper" is the direct object and "surprisingly easy" is the objective complement that describes the quality of the object as perceived by the subject — verbs such as "find" "think" "consider" "believe" and "make" frequently take objective complements.)

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8. "The long and exhausting journey proved extremely beneficial for her personal and professional growth." — Identify the verb of incomplete predication and its complement.

• A) "Proved" is a transitive verb and "extremely beneficial" is its direct object
• B) "Proved" is a verb of incomplete predication and "extremely beneficial" is its objective complement
• C) "Proved" is a verb of incomplete predication and "extremely beneficial" is its subjective complement
• D) "Proved" is an intransitive verb and "extremely beneficial" is an adverbial modifier

Answer: C) "Proved" is a verb of incomplete predication and "extremely beneficial" is its subjective complement ("Proved" is a verb of incomplete predication that links the subject "the long and exhausting journey" to the adjective phrase "extremely beneficial" — "extremely beneficial" is the subjective complement that describes the ultimate quality or outcome associated with the subject — the sentence would be incomplete without this complement.)

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9. "The public considers her one of the most inspiring and influential leaders of the modern era." — Identify the objective complement.

• A) "One of the most inspiring and influential leaders" is the subjective complement describing the subject "the public"
• B) "Her" is the objective complement renaming the subject of the sentence
• C) "One of the most inspiring and influential leaders" is the objective complement describing the direct object "her"
• D) "Of the modern era" is the objective complement modifying the verb "considers"

Answer: C) "One of the most inspiring and influential leaders" is the objective complement describing the direct object "her" ("Considers" is a transitive verb that takes both a direct object and an objective complement — "her" is the direct object and "one of the most inspiring and influential leaders of the modern era" is the objective complement that identifies and describes the object from the perspective of the subject "the public.")

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10. "Which of the following sentences correctly illustrates the use of a verb of incomplete predication with a subjective complement?"

• A) She gave her friend a beautiful gift on her birthday.
• B) The manager assigned the most challenging task to the newest member of the team.
• C) He sent his parents a long and heartfelt letter from abroad.
• D) The weather became unbearably hot and humid during the peak of the summer season.

Answer: D) The weather became unbearably hot and humid during the peak of the summer season. ("Became" is a verb of incomplete predication that links the subject "the weather" to the adjective phrase "unbearably hot and humid" which is the subjective complement describing the changed state of the subject — options A B and C all contain transitive verbs with direct and indirect objects and do not illustrate the use of a verb of incomplete predication with a subjective complement.)